Ravens playoff push alive with key NE-10 victory

RINDGE, N.H. (February 14, 2008) – Franklin Pierce University kept its postseason hopes alive with a 59-55 victory over the University of Massachusetts Lowell in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action at the Fieldhouse tonight.

Franklin Pierce (8-15, 4-14 NE-10) moved within three games in the loss column of both UMass Lowell (10-13, 7-11 NE-10) and American International College (10-13, 7-11 NE-10) with four games to play. The win gives the Ravens the head-to-head tiebreaker on UMass Lowell and they close out the regular season with their lone meeting of the year at AIC on February 26. Franklin Pierce seeks its 31st-straight postseason berth.

Franklin Pierce picked up the win despite the fact its top two scorers on the night finished the game on the bench after fouling out. Juniors Rimas Varanauskas (Kaunas, Lithuania/The Winchendon School) and Timothy Munch (Blauvelt, N.Y./Storm King Prep) combined for 29 points on the night. Varanauskas, who fouled out with 3:09 to play in the contest, led the Ravens with a season-high 16 points (11 second half) on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, eight rebounds (five offensive) and two assists. Munch, who left the game with five fouls with 10:05 left, scored all 13 of his points in the opening half, finishing 5-of-12 from the field, including 3-8 from three-point range, to go with three steals.

Freshman Steve Ramos (Lynn, Mass./Hebron Academy) added eight points and two assists for Franklin Pierce, while classmate Kinard Dozier (Dedham, Mass./The Winchendon School) chipped in seven points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

UMass Lowell senior forward Michael Gore (Wilmington, Mass./Shawsheen Tech) led all scorers with 22 points (20 second half) on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, while converting 8-of-10 free-throws, and four rebounds. Sophomore Kevin Carr (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) added 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while classmate Victor Colon (Chicago, Ill./Niles West) chipped in nine points, two steals and two blocked shots.

Franklin Pierce held UMass Lowell to 35.8-percent (19-for-53) shooting from the field, including 30.8% (8-26) in the first half, and a 3-22 (13.6%) effort from three-point range. The Ravens made 40.8% (20-49) of their shots on the night, including 44% (11-25) in the opening stanza, and connected on 7-19 (36.8%) three’s.

Franklin Pierce did enough at the free-throw line, making 5-of-8 free-throws in the final minute, to seal the victory. Leading by two after a missed three-pointer by UMass Lowell senior Dashon Harper (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready) with 17-seconds to play, Dozier was fouled and made both free-throws to put the Ravens up two possessions (57-53) with 15-seconds to go. The River Hawks went for the quick pair and Carr hit a runner with ten ticks left to pull the visitors within two points (57-55).

Sophomore Terrell Ray (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) was fouled on the inbounds pass and hit one-of-two, but Carr missed a step back three from the left side with nine-seconds to go with a chance to tie. Franklin Pierce junior Craig Shepherd (Grantham, N.H./Trinity) pulled down the defensive rebound and hit the first of two free-throws with 0.6-seconds left to ice the victory.

Franklin Pierce scored the final seven points of the opening half to carry a seven-point edge (27-20) into the locker room, sparked by a Varanauskas three with 2:46 left. UMass Lowell quickly drew within three points (27-24) after two Gore lay-ups in the opening minute of the second half.

Franklin Pierce responded by extending its lead back to eight points (32-24) after a Dozier lay-up with 17:13 to go. The Ravens lead was 11 (42-31) after a Varanauskas lay-up with 11:17 to play.

Franklin Pierce’s lead was still 11 (46-35) with 7:09 on the clock before UMass Lowell closed within four (46-42) with 5:59 to go after seven-straight points by Gore, including a conventional three-point play. A Carr three pulled the River Hawks back within two (49-47) with 3:48 to go and the guests were within a point (54-53) after a Gore jumper with 35-seconds left before the Ravens recovered at the line.

Franklin Pierce (8-15, 4-14 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Merrimack College, ranked ninth in this week’s NCAA Division II Northeast Regional poll, at 3:30 p.m. UMass Lowell (10-13, 7-11 NE-10) hosts top-ranked and unbeaten Bentley College on Saturday at 4 p.m.